The story of Naruto goes into depressing territory frequently, with its protagonist often reflecting on his past, shunned by his village, no friends in sight, and scoffed at for his dreams of becoming Hokage. As the series progresses, Naruto Uzumaki builds up his abilities, defends his home and the world, and wins over even his harshest critics as he becomes Konoha's beloved hero. But while Naruto amasses an incredible circle of friends throughout the series, his dedication to winning over Kurama and bringing Sasuke Uchiha back to the light pushes his true best friends, like Shikamaru Nara, behind Sasuke's shadow.

Shikamaru is one of many characters in Naruto who repeatedly demonstrate their loyalty and admiration for the protagonist. Shikamaru's contributions are possibly the most long-lasting and impactful, a sharp contrast to his original adolescent desire to lie low. In many ways, Naruto's influence hugely benefited Shikamaru, and vice versa.